Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-16

CIVIL SERVICE IN THE SCHOOLS.
A Subject Discussed ny The Depart.
nent Of SuPerintendenceL Last Night.
The Nationol Department OF School Superinten-
dents discussed civil service reform at their ses-
sion at the National museum last night. Those
who spoke on the subject were pretty nearly all
civil service reformers, and that sentiment was
loudly appianded by the assemblage OF men and
women, which pretty nearly filled the lecture
hall. Mr.. W. E. Sheldon, LII. D., president of the
National Educational association, introduced the
subject with few remarks after which the dis
cuss1on proceeded.
THE sPous sYsTEN IN THE SCHOOLS
The nrss speaker was Mr.. Leroy D. BIZ ,wn, Of
Columbus, Ohio, state commissioner OF common
schools He said that the spoils system, Of which
80 much was said In politics, had made its appear
cation were sought for the money In them. II IL
be the purchase OF site, the selection OF plan,
or the giving OF contract, 1t was not the most
suitable site, the best plans, or the most advan-
tageous contract but the per cent the members OF
the board were TO get from the transaction which
with facts, and figures that these considerations
controlled in many towns and cities. Even the
presidents OF the boards OF education got their APP
pOintmentS In recognition OF money considerations
In word, the spoilS system was in the schools.
He would not say that the same method of cor
ItCUiIlS tuaC WAS I0uOWe0 IN ONO would be
good In West Virginia, or in Mississippi but GER
tafnly Intelligence should be factor In the Selec-
ton, and, above all things, character should be
considered. In the study OF the question OF civil
service reform he had been struck with its appli-
cation to the public school system. He thought
that those interested in the schools should feel to
what degree they were indebted to Mr.. DOrInan
b. Eaton and other gentlemen who had interested
themselves In this matter, and particularly were
they Indebted to the Institution OF Ctvics. He
thought 1t matter OF earnest congratulation that
civil service reform sentiments were growing so
rapidly throughout the country, and particularly
In Washington.
THE ArfoNrMENr OF TEACHERS.
He was followed by Hon. B. s. Morgan, OF West
Virginia, who spoke of the effect OF civil service
reform In the schools In making teaching a pro.
fessiOn. He said that the sentiment OF civil ser.
vice reform was having the effect upon schools so
that In the most intelligent communities teachers
were appointed on account OF qualification. and
being appointed there was an understanding that
they should not be removed except for cause He
enable a man to pass wen through a mental ex
animation, did not necessarily ut man or woman
for teaching There were other qualifications ac-
ought TO be considered.
WHERE THE FAULT LIES.
He was followed by A. n. Barrlnger, who was not
so much civil service reformer as the rest. He
said that from what had been said on the subject
it appeared that self government and the election
this as fact. He was conscious that there Was
something wrong; that there was q loss of the
sense OF duty, and he could see that the spoils
system might have something to do with the case
but he was not prepared to renOunce the election
system in favor OF the appOintance. He thought
they should go TO the fountain head. The defect
was in the school system somewhere. He thought
It best that pupils should be impeled by sense
OF duty rather than by the fever OF competition
and the mere desire to get ahead Of each other,
even II 1t was by pushing others down. He said
he was talking with school superintendent,
who complained that some Of his teach
desire These teachers had been Instructed In the
public schools under this very superintendent,
and be 0he speaker) wanted to know how 1t was
that they should be deficient. 1t must be on ac-
count Of the system and must have been the super
tntendentS own fault The speaker had asked
himself what boys were good or. He had thought
for fifteen years on the subject. Suddenly it had
come to him that they were good to make men OF.
And this was his idea, that the public schools
should not make doctors, Lawyers or clergymen, or
TO make men and women OF them. That once ac-
complished they could make any thing they wanted
to OF themselves. He did not take so much to the
civil service reform view OF the situation.
MR.. BILLIARDS. IDEA.
Mr.. Thomas P. Ballard, OF Columbus, Ohio, the
last speaker on the official program, believed
thoroughly In civil service reform. He thought
that the proper test for civil appointment should
be that OF scholarship In the public schools. He
spoke OF civil appointments under the govern
ment as something in the nature of rewards or
scholarships to be attained by the boys and girls
u
schools. He thought that what these students
devoted twelve years to learning under govern
ment instructions ought not to be ignored after
wards by the government in making appoint
ments. He deplored the want OF confidence on
the part OF the government IN the public schools,
and the corresponding lack OF confidence on the
part OF the schools in the politics or the country.
He thought much attention should be given TO
ctvtcS in the public schools. He said that the
function OF teachers should be the laying OF the
foundations OF citizenship, and the same training
would mt men for the civil service. Civil service
reform should commend Itself to all schoolmen on
account of the opportunities it opened up for
young men and women.
WHAT OTHER SPEAKERS SAID.
Superintendent George G. Luckey, OF Pittsburg,
Pa said that the real difficulty was not with the
election system, but that the power OF election
had passed from the people to the rings, and the
problem was how to so educate the people that
they can educate themselves DR.. II. X. Waite, OF
Boston, president OF the American Institute OF
CtvicS said it the duty OF the superintendent
to inspire the teachers with more earnest purpose
in their great work OF training up American citi-
favor OF civil service II IL was limited to the
schools Politics should be separated from schools
citizens and not to train up clerks for the civil
service. The discussion was continued by A. p.
Marble. Phi. d., city superintendent OF the schools
tntendent OF schools OF Wheeling, VIVA.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
At the afternoon session OF the department OF
superintendent yesterday when, as stated in The
STAR the topic, "a Teachers Certificate" was dis
cussed, the president announced that Senator
Blair would take part in the discussion OF the sub
tect of 'The Relation OF Our Public Schools to the
General government" in place OF Hon. VIM. Nc
ktnley, who was unable to be present The presi-
dent appointed the following committee OF i've to
consider and report upon the suggestions made In
the paper on "A Teachers Certiffcate:" DR.. B. A
Ainsdale. Ohio; d.. n: A. Newell. Maryland; Supt.
+. n. Campbell, California; Supt. Edwards, ILL.,
nOiS and Supt, w, n. BarrinQer New Jersey
Defaulter Vincent Captured.
ALABAAAs MISSING TREASURER LODGED IN JAIL AT
MONTGOMERY.
Isaac II. Vincent, Alabama's defaultfng treasu-
rer, who has been missing since 1885, having got
away with over 10000 OF public money, was
lodged in Jail at Montgomery, Ala, Tuesday. He
was caught near Ell Paso. Texas. He was brought
to Montgomery by Texas detective. He left